Patrick's Heart by Stacey Espino Read Free Book Online

shrugged, disinterested in his warning. “Call me Sam.” She tilted her head seductively, allowing the side of her lace nightgown to slide down one shoulder.
    He had no time for games when his entire future was at stake. “Where’s he at?”
    She scowled for a moment and then pushed the door fully open so he could enter. It was warm in the trailer compared to the sharp chill of the early-morning air. The scent of arousal was nearly as strong as Ms. Tanner’s irritating perfume. A brown-haired male sat on the sofa, looking up at him. He had blue eyes, but other than that he saw no resemblance to Cassidy. Patrick reminded himself they were only half siblings, and looks didn’t necessarily mean anything.
    “Good morning,” said the man. “My name’s Scott.”
    He tested the air, confident he’d found the man who’d visited Cassidy’s house. The one he’d tracked all the way back to the mine. His hackles went up.
    “Who are you looking for here? Climax isn’t exactly on the tourist map.” He didn’t disguise the irritation in his voice. Gregor Mining wasn’t a hotel. If this guy wasn’t related to Cassidy, he had to go. Patrick was exhausted, frustrated, and heartbroken—and he needed answers.
    “I was looking for my sister, Cassidy Lyons. I heard she got a job up here at one of the mines. I’ve been looking for her for weeks.”
    He crossed his arms over his chest. Brother or not, knowing a male was looking for Cassidy made his possessive instincts soar. “You leave a note on her door a while back?”
    The smaller man frowned, appearing perplexed. “I don’t even know where she lives.”
    Great. More questions left unanswered. And lies. Scott had to have known it was Cassidy’s house he’d recently visited. It would be too much of a coincidence for her brother to show up at her place. Why deny it?
    “She was looking for you, but you just disappeared. She thought maybe the wolves got to you.”
    “I gave up and returned south a couple times. But I never planned to just give up on her.” He dug in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He flashed a picture of Cassidy in a skirt suit. “It’s the only picture of her I have. A relative gave it to me.”
    Patrick snatched the wallet from his hand and took a good look at the photo. She didn’t look much younger than she was now, and Cassidy said she’d never met any of her blood relatives. Who could have given him a photo of her? His hackles continued to rise.
    “What relative?”
    “An–an aunt. I didn’t ask questions. I was just happy knowing I had a half sister out there somewhere.”
    “And what made you look in Climax?”
    “I found out where she worked in the city, but she had already quit. They told me to look at one of the mines around here—something about a rich relative dying and leaving her his estate.”
    So that was his angle. He wanted Cassidy’s money…or the money he thought she had. The truth was that Cassidy’s inheritance was more a burden than a fortune. It consisted of a run-down shack and a bunch of overgrown weeds. The kid’s story wasn’t adding up, and it was seriously pissing off Patrick’s wolf, that sensed layers of deception from the stranger.
    “She does work here.”
    “What?” asked the inspector. “I wasn’t aware you had another woman on your staff list. Are you talking about that girl in training?”
    He didn’t like the condescending way she referred to Cassidy. “That’s her.” He returned his attention to the male. “If you’re really her brother, I’d be happy to introduce the two of you. Just know I’m very protective of her so I hope your intentions are honorable.” For your sake.
    “Interesting,” said Ms. Tanner. “It sounds like you know this girl personally, Patrick.”
    Garret wanted them to keep any personal relationship with Cassidy under the carpet until the inspector left. His alpha didn’t want any reason to get a failing grade, and he wasn’t sure if mixing